OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY CORVALLIS, OREGON 97331
The Daily Barometer
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DAILYBAROMETER
THURSDAY JANUARY 15, 2015 VOL. CXVII, NO. 54
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OSU vet college helps dogs find their feet Rehabilitation clinic at Small Animal Hospital keeps busy rehabilitating canine patients By Kat Kothen
THE DAILY BAROMETER
When yellow lab Lani had to get knee surgery, her owner Wendy McLroy was worried Lani’s time as a working dog was up. But that was two-and-a-half years ago, and 8-year-old Lani is still going strong, working wilderness search and rescue. She even recently started doing urban search and research. “I wasn’t sure if after the surgery she could come back, but with the rehab, she has been able to keep doing it,” McLroy said. Lani’s a longtime patient of the Small Animal Hospital in the Oregon State University College of Veterinary Medicine. After her surgery, Lani stayed at the hospital for a week; for a month she did rehabilitation twice weekly. Nowadays, Lani comes in to the rehabilitation clinic only once a month. The main activity that Lani gets to do at the clinic is walk on the underwater treadmill. This allows her to get exercise with less weight on her
joints. In addition, the water adds Hospital doesn’t stop at the underresistance. Sarah Smith, rehabilita- water treadmill. They also have a tion technician, said that 10 minutes large pool for animals that need to of walking in the pool is equal to build more muscle. In addition to about a 20 or 30 minute walk on land. water-based therapy, the clinic has “The treadmill helps with proper laser therapy. The laser treatment involves using gait and proper use of the muscles,” lasers to reduce inflammation of tisSmith said. Being in the water helps dogs, like sue and help with nerve problems. Lani, become more aware of their Telly, an 8-year-old pit bull, receives laser treatments to help with lumbar legs. sacral disease, which is a disease of Lani loves the treadmill. McLroy the spine. The hope is that the laser said that if Lani could figure out how, treatments will help enough that she would put herself in the tank. Telly doesn’t end up needing back Smith said she see usually sees surgery. about 12 to 14 dogs per day, but Research is also being conductthat an upwards of 20 dogs could be ed in the rehabilitation clinic. The seen in a day. Dogs go to rehab for clinic has a force plate that allows orthopedic injuries, researchers to see weight problems how much weight and neurological is on each paw of problems. Smith The treadmill the animal. This has also seen dogs technique can be helps with proper for sports-related to gauge recovgait and proper use used reasons, such as ery. There is also dogs that do agility of the muscles. research into the courses. usefulness of certain Not just dogs Sarah Smith supplements. have experienced Rehabilitation technician Smith described the benefits of the a research project that just finished Kat kothen | THE DAILY BAROMETER underwater treadmill; cats, goats and its pilot program. The project comeven guinea pigs have made use of it. Safety comes first for Telly, an 8-year-old pit bull receiving laser treatment See VET | page 4 Rehabilitation at the Small Animal for a back injury. The goggles protect his retinas from the laser.
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Discovery lecture series goes ‘Wild’ From chimeras to cloning n
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Cheryl Strayed, author of ‘Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail’ comes to OSU
Students create OSU’s first bioethics society; group focuses on scientific controversies By Chris Correll
By Abigail Erickson
THE DAILY BAROMETER
THE DAILY BAROMETER
It’s not often that a New York Times best-selling author comes to the Oregon State University campus to talk about his or her novel and experiences, but that’s exactly what Cheryl Strayed plans to do. Strayed will talk about her book “Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail,” Thursday, Jan. 15, at the LaSells Stewart Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the talk is free and open to the public. Her book was recently adapted into a film starring Reese Witherspoon. “It’s not very often you can hear someone with so much national fame speak on campus, and for free,” said
Courtesy of Cheryl Strayed
Writer Cheryl Strayed will be at OSU to discuss her experiences and her novel“Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail.” Shelly Signs, director of university events. “Why wouldn’t you take the opportunity to hear a New York Times’ best-selling author tell about the experience? The fact that you can get her autograph afterwards is a bonus, too.” Signs added that this is a major cultural opportunity for the Corvallis community, especially with the event being free.
“Cheryl spoke at the University of Buffalo and tickets were up to $34 per seat for her lecture,” Signs said. “For the Corvallis community — wow, what a great cultural opportunity. It feels like a gift we as a university can give to our community and a nice benefit of living in or near a college town.” Strayed was at the 72nd Annual See STRAYED | page 2
In an era when modern science is outpacing government’s power to regulate it, arguments about ethical practice have become a common source of controversy. What’s considered a breakthrough to some may have troubling implications for others. From stem cell research to genetically modified food, the fear of backlash from stating opinion keeps many people silent. Last term, a handful of seniors decided to foster conversation among students by establishing something to get the talks going. Their solution: the Oregon State University bioethics society, which held its first meeting Jan. 13. Similar to the Socratic club, the bioethics society has a core of philosophic discussion with a specific focus on scientific advancements. Matt Kaiser, microbiology senior and a founding officer, said the group was formed “out of a need” to promote “continued dialogue outside
Women’s track and field prepares for season Sports, page 5
of the classroom” on sensitive topics. “It’s not that there’s necessarily a right answer,” Kaiser said. “It’s just the fact that there are questions that need discussion. We are a science university. We live in a world that is full of scientific innovation and technology, especially in medicine. You can’t just sweep these things under the rug and say ‘just because I don’t know about it, I shouldn’t care.’” OSU has large pre-med, pharmacy and engineering populations whose future work will likely be affected by issues of bioethics. The university’s curriculum does include a biomedical ethics course — PHL 444 — taught by Courtney Campbell. The class, according to Kaiser, regularly fills up. Campbell is also the club’s faculty adviser. The bioethics society is intended as a non-partisan group. Biochemistry senior Evan Firsick described club meetings as a censor-free environment where debaters “don’t feel ostracized.” Its activities allow students to openly discuss their views. “A lot of people look at bioethics and think it’s something that doesn’t concern them or impact their lives, but in reality, any of these subjects, science-related or not, has some See BIOETHICS | page 2
Dr. Fit discusses society’s love-hate relationship with food Forum, page 7